Crankcase service

ABSTRACT

An engine pump valve apparatus having a plug adapted to be threaded into the bottom of the engine. The plug has a check valve. The apparatus also has a pump valve adapted to be threaded into the plug, with fluid lines connecting the drain valve with a fresh oil can, flush can, and an empty oil can. The pump valve also has a handle means for opening the check valve in the plug and pump means and selector valve means for selectively pumping out oil in the engine into the empty can, flushing the engine with flushing fluid from a flush can and pumping fresh oil into the engine from the fresh oil into the engine from the fresh oil can.

United States Patent I Martel l lMal'ch 13, 1973 [54] CRANKCASE SERVICE 3,282,380 1 1/1966 Burrell et a1 184/1 .5 2 nventdr: Marvin L. Martel, Fargo N. Dak 3,447,636 6/1969 Bonfilo .r 184/1 .5

58102 Primary Examinei-Manuel A. Antonakas [22] F'led: 1970 Attorney-Robert E. Kleve [211 Appl. No.: 24,521

[57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl ..184/ 1.5, 184/ 105 An engine pump valve apparatus having a plug [51] Int. Cl ..F0lm 11/04 adapted to be threaded into the bottom of the engine. [58] Field of Search ..184/ 1.5, 105; 251/144, 192 The plug has a check valve. The apparatus also has a pump valve adapted to be threaded into the plug, with References Cited fluid lines connecting the drain valve with a fresh oil UNITED STATES PATENTS can, flush can, and an empty oil can. The pump valve also has a handle means for opening the check valve 3,052,256 9/ 1962 Smirles ..25 1/ 144 X in the plug and pump means and selector valve means Hedglon for electively out in the engine into the .5 X can the engine flushing from 2,320,048 5/ 1943 Parson ..184/1.5 a flush can and pumping fresh n into the engine from 2,160,741 5/1939 JePsen et the fresh oil into the engine from the fresh oil can. 2,479,139 8/1949 Sergel ..184/ 1.5 p 4 3,216,527 1 1 1965 Lewis ..184/1.5 1 Claim, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDnARmm 3,720,287

P58PM INVENTOR Marvin L. Muriel QMEK ATTORNEY CRANKCASE SERVICE The invention relates to pump valve apparatus and the like, more particularly the invention relates to pump valve mechanisms for engines.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel pump valve apparatus for engine block which can pump the oil out of the engine oil pan without the oil gushing out or splashing on the operator.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel pump valve apparatus for engines which will pump the oil out of the engine oil pan and flush the engine and pump fresh oil into the engine oil pan.

It is another object of the invention to provide a novel pump valve apparatus for pumping fluid out of an engine and pumping fresh fluid into the engine.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds and when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the engine pumping invention shown installed in the bottom of an engine oil pan with a cutaway view of the engine oil pan.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the plug of the engine pumping invention with a cutaway view of the engine oil pan.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the plug and pump valve of the engine pumping invention.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with the plug and pump valve of the engine pump invention cutaway to reveal the interior construction thereof.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the plug and drain valve taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 77 of FIG. 1.

Briefly stated, the invention comprises an engine pump valve apparatus for engines comprising a plug with a check valve adapted to be mounted in the bottom of an engine oil pan of an engine, a pump valve adapted to be mounted in the bottom of the plug with connecting lines connecting the pump valve to a fresh oil can, a flush can and an empty oil can with selective pump means for pumping out the oil from the engine oil pan into the empty can and flushing the engine oil pan with flushing fluid and replacing fresh oil into the engine from a fresh oil can.

Referring more particularly to the drawing in FIG. 1 the engine pumping invention 20 is illustrated as having a valve check plug 21 which is press fitted into a bore 22 in the bottom 23' of the oil pan 23 of a conventional engine. A pump valve apparatus 25 is threaded into the bottom of the plug 21.

The check valve plug 21 has cylindrical upper end 26 with a central bore 27 having a straight cylindrical surface. A conventional split ring 28 of resilient material is socketed within the annular ridge 27 in the upper end of bore 27 to hold the upper end of a coil spring 33 in a fixed position.

At the lower end of the central bore 27 is an annular inwardly projecting ledge or collar 29 and a reduced 1 size bore 30 extending centrally through the collar 29 and communicating with an enlarged threaded bore 31 at the bottom of the plug. A ball bearing 32 is seated on the ledge 29 and held in place by the coil spring 33 in the central bore 27 which coil spring is held under compression against the bell bearing 32 by the spring 28 and with the seating of the ball bearing 32 closing the bore 30. The plug 21 has an enlarged shoulder 21 with eight flat sides for a wrench to engage for turning the plug into place. An Allen head screw 33 may be threaded into the bore 31 to further seal the bore 31.

The pump valve apparatus 25 has a central cylindrical portion 34 with an enlarged collar 35 centrally of the height of the cylindar portion 34 at the upper end of the cylinder portion 34 is an outwardly flared annular flange 36. A sleeve 37 has a threaded upper end portion 37' for threading or screwinginto the threaded bore 31 of the plug. The sleeve 37 at its lower end has an annular channel member 38 surrounding the flange M 36 in water tight relation and rotatable relative to the.

flange 36 so that the sleeve 37 may be threaded into the bore 31 of the plug without having to rotate the cylinder portion 26.

A threaded rod 39 is threaded into a bore 40 in the bottom of the cylinder portion 34. The rod 39 has a handle 41 fixed to its lower end and a dish member 42 fixed to its upper end, and with the rotation of the handle threading the rod and dish member upward and down in the central bore 43 of the cylinder portion 34 and in the enlarged bore 31, reduced bore 30, and enlarged bore 27, with the dish being adapted to engage the ball bearing 32 and raise it up away from the collar 29 to open the communication between bores 31, 30, and 27.

Beneath the drain valve apparatus 25 are four oil cans 43, 44, 45, and 46. Oil can 43 carries 10-20 weight oil, oil can 44 carries 30 weight oil, oil can 45 carries conventional flushing fluid for flushing the engine and can 46 is empty for receiving the dirty oil from the oil pan 23.

The oil cans 43, 44, 45, and 46 each have their respective oil lines 43', 44, 45, and 46' which communicate with the oil cans 4346, respectively, at one end and which are coupled to and in communication with the ports or bores 43", 44", 45", and 46" in the selector valve 47.

The selector valve 47 has a cylindrical hollow casing 48. The casing 48 has an annular disc top 49 an annular disc bottom 50, and a cylindrical side wall sleeve 51 which is connected to the top and bottom discs 49 and 50 to provide a hollow chamber.

A conduit 52 has its one end 52 in communication with a port or bore 53 in the side wall of sleeve 51.

A disc member 54 is rotatably mounted within the chamber or casing 48. The disc member 54 has a-cylindrical outer edge 54 about a major portion of its circumference and a flat outer edge 54" along the remainder of its outer surface, with a central bore 55 which extends from the cylindrical outer edge 54' to the flat outer edge 54". A pin 56 extends upward through a bore in the center of the top disc 49, and a handle 57 is fixed to the top of the pin and extends radially outwardly whereby turning the'handle will rotate the disc member 54 so that the end of the bore 55 at the outer cylindrical edge 54' may communicate with one of the four ports 43", 44", 45", or 46", while the rearward end of the center bore at the flat side or edge 54" always remains in communication with the port 53 of conduit 52 regardless of which of the four ports 43-46" the bore 55 has been aligned with. Conmotor 59 and 59' are provided in the conduit line 52 for pumping fluid along the line 52 in either direction.

OPERATION The operation of the engine draining and pumping apparatus 20 is as follows:

The plug 21 will be press fitted into the oil pan 23 of the engine of an automobile, as illustrated in FIG. 2, and the allen head screw 33 will be threaded in, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The oil pan may now be filled with oil in a conventional manner and driven until the oil needs changing. The spring loaded ball 32 and the allen screw will prevent any oilfrom draining out of the oil pan through the ports 60 and 60' through an opening 61 in the annular spring clip into the interior 27 of the plug and out the bore 30 and 31.

When it is desired to change oil, the allen head screw 33 will be removed (See FIG. 2) and the drain valve assembly 25 will be attached (See FIG. 4) by threading in the threading neck 37' of the collar 38 into the threaded bore 31, by turning the collar 38, which collar is free to rotate on the annular flange 36. Conventional sealing means may be provided between the collar 38 and flange 36, and neck 37 and bore 31 to prevent any leakage and assure a fluid tight connection.

Once the drain valve assembly 25 has been attached, the handle 41, will be turned threading the rod 39 and dish 42 upward until it engages the ball 32 and raises it to its position shown in FIG. 1.

Once the ball 32 has been raised, oil in'the oil pan 32 is free to travel from-the oil pan into the ports 60 and 60 down the bore. 27 into bore 30 and into the bore 43 of the drain valve assembly and from there into the upper end 52 of the oil line 52.

The handle 57'of the selector valve 47 will be turned to align the central bore 55 with the port 46" which port connects with the empty oil can 46 and conduit 46'.

Once the handle 57 of selector valve 47 has been positioned, the motor 59 will be energized to operate the pump 58 which pumps in a direction to pump the dirty oil in the oil pan 23 and crankcase of the engine through the ports 60 and 60, through bores 27, 30, and 43 into the line 52, through the pump 58 and into the selection valve 47, via port 53 into the bore 55 and from there into conduit 46 and into the empty oil can 46. When all of the used or dirty oil in the crankcase and oil pan has been pumped out into the can 46 down to the level of ports 60 and 60', the motor 59 will be turned off.

Whereupon the handle 57 will be rotated clockwise until the bore 55 is aligned with the port 45", which port is in communication with the can 45 via conduit 45' which contains flushing fluid.

The pump 58' will be operated to pump in the reverse direction by energized pump motor 59 for the pump 58 and the flushing fluid in can 45 will be pumped out of the can 45 through conduit 45 valve 47, selector conduit 52 and pump 58, bores 43, 30,

and 27 into the oil pan for cleaning the interior of the engine.

When the desired amount of flushing fluid has been pumped into the engine the pump motor 59 will be turned off and a pump motor 59 will be energized reversing the pumping action and the flushing fluid will be pumped back into the can 45. The pump motor 59 will then be turned off.

whereupon, the handle 57 of the selector valve will be turned to further clockwise to either port 44 or 43" depending upon which grade oil (l0-20 or 30) is desired to be placed in the engine. Assuming grade 10-20 is desired to be pumped'into the engine the handle 57 will be rotated until the bore 55 aligns in communication with port 43" and the pump motor 59' will be energized and the fresh l020 oil in can 43 will be pumped out of the can through conduit 43' port 43", bore 55, conduit 52, and pump 58', through bores 43, 30, and 27 into the crankcase and oil pan until the desired quantity of oil has been introduced into the engme.

When the desired amount of oil from can 43 has been introduced into the crankcase, the motor 59' will be turned off, and the rod 39 will be threaded back to its position shown in FIG. 4, by turning the handle 41, which drops the ball 32 onto the shoulder 29 of the bore 30, closing the bore 30.

Once the bore 30 has been closed, the drain valve assembly 25 will be removed by turning the collar 38, unthreading the neck 37 of the collar from the bore 31 in the plug, and whereupon the allen head screw 33 will be threaded back into the bore 31.

Various different types of oils may be used in cans 43 and 44.

Thus, it will be seen that a novel device has been provided for quickly pumping out'used oil from the oil pan of an engine of an automobile and pumping fresh oil into the oil pan of the engine for flushing the engine by pumping means.

It will be apparent that various changes and departures may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit thereof and accordingly it is not intended that the invention be limited to that specifically described in the specification or as illustrated in the drawing, but only as set forth in the appended claims wherein:

What is claimed is:

1. An engine oil change and flushing apparatus comprising an engine, said engine having an opening to provide access into the bottom of said engine, a first conduit, attachment means at one end of said first conduit providing attachment to said engine at said opening for fluid communication therein, a single reversable pump means, a single selector valve, a second conduit, said first conduit being connected at its other end to said single reversable pump means, said second conduit being connected between said single reversable pump means and said single selector valve, at least four containers, at least two of said four containers containing fresh oil with a different grade of oil in each container, one of said four containers containing flushing fluid, one of said containers being at least substantially empty, each of said four containers having fluid conduit lines individually connecting said containers to said single selector valve, said selector valve being movable to provide selective communication between the fluid conduit line of any one of said containers and said second conduit to provide selective communication between any one of said at least four containers and the interior of the bottom of said engine through the fluid conduit line of the selected container, the selector valve, the second conduit, the reversable pump means, and the first conduit into the opening in the engine, whereby upon adjustment of the selector valve into communication with said at least substantially empty container, any oil in the bottom of the engine will be pumped by said single reversable pump means into said at least substantially empty container, whereby upon adjustment of said selector valve into communication with said flushing fluid container, the flushing fluid will be pumped by said single reversable pump means into the bottom of said engine and back into said flushing fluid container, whereby upon adjustment of said selector valve into communication with a selected one of said fresh oil containers, the fresh oil in the selected container will be pumped into the bottom of said engine, with the single selector valve and the single reversable pump means thereby serving any one of said at least four containers for said selective pumping operation, said engine including an oil pan at the bottom and said opening in said engine is in the bottom of said oil pan, said attachment means comprising a spring loaded check valve mounted in said opening in said oil pan, said attachment means further irigcluding a coupling detachably mounted to said check 'valve, said coupling having a threadably adjustable handle, said handle being threadably adjustable when said coupling is attached to said check valve to open said check valve and lock said check valve in its open position whereby fluid may flow between the bottom of the engine and the first conduit through the check valve and coupling. 

1. An engine oil change and flushing apparatus comprising an engine, said engine having an opening to provide access into the bottom of said engine, a first conduit, attachment means at one end of said first conduit providing attachment to said engine at said opening for fluid communication therein, a single reversable pump means, a single selector valve, a second conduit, said first conduit being connected at its other end to said single reversable pump means, said second conduit being connected between said single reversable pump means and said single selector valve, at least four containers, at least two of said four containers containing fresh oil with a different grade of oil in each container, one of said four containers containing flushing fluid, one of said containers being at least substantially empty, each of said four containers having fluid conduit lines individually connecting said containers to said single selector valve, said selector valve being movable to provide selective communication between the fluid conduit line of any one of said containers and said second conduit to provide selective communication between any one of said at least four containers and the interior of the bottom of said engine through the fluid conduit line of the selected container, the selector valve, the second conduit, the reversable pump means, and the first conduit into the opening in the engine, whereby upon adjustment of the selector valve into communication with said at least substantially empty container, any oil in the bottom of the engine will be pumped by said single reversable pump means into said at least substantially empty container, whereby upon adjustment of said selector valve into communication with said flushing fluid container, the flushing fluid will be pumped by said single reversable pump means into the bottom of said engine and back into said flushing fluid container, whereby upon adjustment of said selector valve into communication with a selected one of said fresh oil containers, the fresh oil in the selected container will be pumped into the bottom of said engine, with the single selector valve and the single reversable pump means thereby serving any one of said at least four containers for said selective pumping operation, said engine including an oil pan at the bottom and said opening in said engine is in the bottom of said oil pan, said attachment means comprising a spring loaded check valve mounted in said opening in said oil pan, said attAchment means further including a coupling detachably mounted to said check valve, said coupling having a threadably adjustable handle, said handle being threadably adjustable when said coupling is attached to said check valve to open said check valve and lock said check valve in its open position whereby fluid may flow between the bottom of the engine and the first conduit through the check valve and coupling. 